Tiltable feed means for grinders



Dec. 20, 1949 w, P, GRUENDLER 2,491,661

TILTABLE FEED MEANS FOR GRINDERS Filed Nov. 23, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 20, 1949 w. P. GRUENDLER TILTABLE FEED mmusron enmnsns 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 23, 1945 FIG.5.

/NVENTOR' WILLIAM R GRUENDLER Patented Dec. 20, 1949 2,491,661 7 TILTABLE FEED MEANS FOR GRINDERS William P. Gruendler, Clayton, Mo., assignor to Gruendler Crusher & Pulverizer Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 23, 1945, Serial No. 630,287

Claims.

1 This invention relates in general to certain 7 new and useful improvements in grinders.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a grinder or crusher of the hammermill deflected thereinto by the angularly disposed under-face of a deflector bar.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a grinder of the type stated, having a reversible deflector bar rockably mounted in the path of the material falling from the chute and pivoted on an axis extending approximately parallel to the hammer axis for controlling the direction or fall of the incoming material into one side or the other of the cage.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction.arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (three sheets) t Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a' grinder constructed in accordance with and embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the grinder taken along line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the grinder taken along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the reversible deflector plate forming a part of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectionalvlew of a modilied form of grinder constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention; and

Figures 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary sectional views of the modified form of grinder shown in Figure 5, respectively illustrating the several positions of the deflector bar.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to Figs. 1 to 4, of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a ate top walls 8, 9 disposed on opposite sides of the throat 1. Below the arcuate top walls 8, 8, and extending transversely between the side walls I, 2, are swingable trap doors I0, II for removal of tramp iron and other similar material, as will be presently more fully disclosed. The side walls I, 2 are finally connected at their bases with transverse base walls l2, l3, each provided with relatively large apertures I4 rimmed by an outwardly projecting flange I5 and swingably mounted upon the flange l5 for, olosurewise disposition across the aperture I4 is a trap door I8 normally held in closed position by a threaded stud II.

1| The side walls I, 2 are each provided upon their outer faces with four outwardly projecting upright webs I8, I 9, 20, 2|, which terminate in a horizontal bearing flange 22, and each of the side walls I, 2 is furthermore provided in upwardly spaced relation to the flanges 22 with transversely aligned registering apertures 23, 24 for accommodating a main shaft 25, which extends rotatably therethrough and is mounted in conventional journals 26 bolted or otherwise suitably secured upon the upper faces of the bearing flanges 22. It will, of course, be understood in this connection that the shaft 25 projects outwardly at its ends beyond the journals 26 for connection in any conventional manner to a suitable prime mover (not shown). Between the webs I8, each of the side walls I, 2 is finally pro: vided with a rectangular aperture 21 covered by a removable clean-out door 21'.

Mounted interiorly of the grinder A and extending transversely between the side walls I, 2 above, and symmetrically on opposite sides of, the center line of the shaft are two similarly shaped arcuate breaker plates 28, 28', respectively, having inwardly presented serrated faces 29, 29. The faces 29, 29', furthermore, have an arcuate contour of increasing radius from the center line of the shaft 25 from bottom to top, that is to say. the radial distance from the center line of the shaft 25 to the lowermost parts of the faces 29, 29' is substantially smaller than the radial distance from the center line of the shaft 25 to the uppermost edges of the faces 29, 29'.

Also mounted upon, and extending transversely between, the side walls I, 2 and disposed directly beneath each of the breaker plates 28, 28' are transverse screen-supporting beams 30, 8|, and slung therefrom is a foraminous screen 32 of semi-circular contour, which is intermedially supported at spaced points by transversely extending cross beams 33.

Rigidlyfl mounted upon the shaft 25 and secured for rotation therewith by means of a key 34 is a series of spaced parallel disks 35 carrying an annular series of hammer rods 36. Swingably mounted upon, and extending radially outwardly from, each of the rods 35 and between every other pair of disks 35-'is a hammer "of such length as to provide a predetermined and desired amount of clearance between the outer limits of the be referred to as the intake opening of the page.

Mounted in, and extending transversely across, the interior of the grinder A directly beneath the lower open or discharge end of the throat I and above the upper limit of the hammer path, is an intake-flow directing or so-called deflector bar 38 of somewhat triangular cross-section and having at its opposite ends outwardly projecting pintles 39 which are journaled in and extend outwardly through the side walls I, 2, respectively. The pintles 39 are co-axial with each other and are arranged in vertical alignment with the center line of the shaft 25 and the throat 1. The deflector bar 38 is provided with an upwardly presented flat face 48 having beveled longitudinal edges 4|, 42. The radial distance from the center line of the pintles 39 to the beveled edges 4|, 42, and the angle of inclination of such beveled edges 4|, 42, to the face 49 are such that when the deflector bar 38 is inclined in one direction, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, the beveled edge 42 will abut against the lower margin of the transverse throat wall and, conversely,

when the deflector bar 38 is rotated ninety degrees, the face 43 will be inclined in the opposite direction and the other beveled edge 4| will abut against the lower edge of the opposite throat wall 9, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

One of the pintles 39 is furthermore provided at its outwardly projecting end with a worm gear 43 adapted for meshing engagement with a driving worm 44 which is, in turn, pinned to a horizontal jack shaft 45 rotatively mounted in and extending through journals 48 and provided at its outer extremity with a squared shank 41 for receiving a wrench, crank, or other manipulating means (not shown), by which the shaft 45 may be manually rotated to shift the deflector bar 38 into either of the above described positions. It will also be noted in this connection that the worm gear 43 and worm 44 are self-locking and hence the deflector bar 38 can be shifted to any intermediate position between its two extreme positions and will remain in such position.

The throat I may be connected to a chute, hopper, or any other suitable means through which the material to be ground can be fed downwardly. The deflector bar 38 is. of course, set so as to direct the incoming material to be ground either to the right or to the left (reference being had to Figure 3), depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft and its associated disks and hammers 31. If, for example, the deflector bar 38 is set in the manner shown in full lines in Figure 3, then the shaft 25 will be rotated in clockwise direction. The material to be ground will then flow downwardly without interruption or bouncing," and be deflected to the right in the direction of the breaker plate 28 and will flow smoothly into the path of the rapidly rotating hammers 31, so that crushing action will take place against the breaker plate 28 and the material to be ground will be carried downwardly and discharged through the screen 32. Any material, such as tramp iron, refuse, and the like will be carried around and flung outwardly against one of the inclined transverse under faces of the deflector bar 38 and discharged upwardly and reversely against the arcuate upper wall 8 and thence downwardly into the space behind the breaker plate 28', which space constitutes a tramp iron catcher or compartment from which such non-grindable refuse may be withdrawn through the trap door I 0. 15 When reverse operation is desired, the breaker bar 38 is shifted through rotation of the jack shaft into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and the direction of rotation of the shaft 25 is accordingly reversed. When .the grinder A is set up in this latter manner, the material is impacted against the breaker plate 28' and the tramp iron and other non-grindable refuse is discharged against the arcuate wall 9 into the space in back of the breaker plate 28 for ultimate removal through the trap door II. If desired, a modified form of grinder A may be provided as shown in Figure 5, being substantially similar in construction to the previously described grinder A, except that a plurality of breaker bars 48 arranged in a semi-circular series may be substituted for the screen 32. In addition, the throat walls 5', 8' of the throat I are beveled along their under-faces as at 49, 50, and a relatively wide deflector bar 38' is provided for abutment against the faces 49, 50 as illustrated in Figures 5 and 8. It will be noted in this connection that in the present embodiment the deflector bar 38' is substantially as wide as the horizontal distance between the upper edges of the breaker plates 28, 28', and is accordingly much wider than the transverse width of the throat 1'. Thus, when the deflector bar 38' is set at any intermediate angular position, such as that shown in Figure 6, it will have the effect of throttling or controlling the quantity of flow into the hammer-path, making the grinder extremely flexible in terms of operating rates as well as the variation in sizes and types of materials which it is capable of grinding. At the same 5 time, the upwardly projecting edge of the plate extends substantially beyond the throat to prevent inflowing material which may tend to pile up against the bar 38' from overflowing in the reverse direction. Finally, in case of emergency, the bar 38' can be shifted into the horizontal position shown in Figure 'Ifor shutting off all flow into the hammer-path.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, 50 and combination of the several parts of the winner may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention. Having thus described' my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A center feed grinder com-prising a cage, a plurality of rotary hammers operably mounted within the cage, said cage being provided with an intake opening disposed centrally above the axis of rotation of the hammers, an intake chute having a discharge opening mounted in upwardly spaced relation to the intake opening of the cage and being substantially centered with respect thereto, tramp material catchers disposed symmetrically above and on opposite sides of the intake opening of the cage. and a deflector bar tiltably mounted at the intake opening, said bar having an upwardly presented flat face for directing the flow of incoming material optionally to one side or the other of the line of flow through the chute, depending upon the position of adjustment of the deflector bar, said deflector bar further having two angularly disposed under faces for respectively deflecting tramp material into one or the other of the tramp material catchers, depending upon the position in which the deflector bar is tilted.

2. A center teed grinder comprising an enclosing casing, a plurality of rotary hammers operatively mounted within the casing, a screen disposed below the rotary hammers, breaker plates provided with serrated faces disposed above and on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said hammers, the upper margins of said breaker plates being spaced in the provision of an intake opening disposed centrally above the axis of rotation of the hammers, an intake chute having a discharge opening mounted in upwardly spaced relation to the intake opening and being substantially centered with respect thereto, tramp material catchers disposed symmetrically above and on opposite sides of the intake opening, and a deflector bar tiltably mounted at the intake opening, said bar having an upwardly presented flat face for directing the flow of incoming material optionally to one side or the other of the line of flow through the chute, depending upon the position oi adjustment of the deflector bar, said deflector bar further having two angularly disposed under faces for respectively deflecting tramp material into one or the other of the tramp material catchers, depending upon the position in which the deflector bar is tilted.

3. A center feed grinder comprising an enclosing casing, a plurality of rotary hammers operatively mounted within the casing, a screen disposed below the rotary hammers, arcuate breaker plates of increasing radius provided with inner serrated faces disposed above and on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said hammers, the upper margins of said breaker plates being spaced in the provision of an intake opening disposed centrally above the axis of rotation of the hammers, an intake chute having a discharge opening mounted in upwardly spaced relation to the intake opening and being substantially centered with respect thereto, tramp material catchers disposed symmetrically above and on opposite sides of the intake opening, and a deflector bar tiltablv mounted at the intake opening, said bar having an upwardly presented flat face for directing the flow of incoming material optionally to one side or the other of the line of flow through the chute, depending upon the position of adJustment of the deflector bar, said deflector bar further having two angulai'ly disposed under faces for respectively deflecting tramp material into oneor the other of the tramp material catchers,'depending upon the position in which the deflector bar is tilted.

4. A center feed grinder comprising an enclosing casing, a plurality of rotary hammers operatively mounted within the casing, arcuate breaker plates of increasing radius provided with inner serrated faces disposed above and on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said hammers, the

upper margins of said breaker plates being spaced in the provision of an intake opening disposed centrally above the axis of rotation of the hamtance from the hammers, an intake chute having a discharge opening mounted in upwardly spaced relation to the intake opening and being substantially centered with respect thereto, tramp material catchers disposed symmetrically above and on opposite sides of the intake opening, and a deflector bar tiltably mounted at the intake opening. said bar having an upwardly presented flat face for directing the flow of incoming material optionally to one side or the other of the line of flow through the chute, depending upon the position of adjustment of the deflector bar, said deflector bar further having two angularly disposed under faces for respectively deflectin tramp material into one or the other of the tramp material catchers, depending upon the position in which the deflector bar is tilted.

-5. A center feed grinder comprising a cage a plurality of rotary hammers operably mounted within the cage, said cage being provided with an intake opening disposed centrally above the axis of rotation of the hammers, an intake chute having a discharge opening mounted in upwardly spaced relation to the intake opening of the cage 5 and being substantially centered with respect thereto, tramp material catchers disposed symmetrically above and on opposite sides of the intake opening of the cage, and a deflector bar tiltably mounted at the intake opening, said bar havin an upwardly presented flat face for preventing material from entering the cage when said face is disposed across the intake opening or for directing the flow of incoming material optionally to one side or the other of the line of flow 35 through the chute upon being tilted, depending upon the position of adjustment of the deflector bar, said deflector bar further having two angularly disposed under faces for respectively deflecting tramp material into one or the other oi the tramp material catchers, depending upon the position in which the deflector bar is tilted 6. A center feed grinder comprising an enclosing casing, a plurality of rotary hammers operatively mounted within the casing, a screen disposed below the rotary hammers, breaker plates provided with serrated faces disposed above and on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said hammers, the upper margins of said breaker plates being spaced in the provision of an intake opening disposed centrally above the axis of rotation of the hammers, an intake chute having a discharge opening mounted in upwardly spaced relation to the intake opening and being substantially centered with respect thereto, tramp material catchers disposed symmetrically and out- 55 wardly of the breaker plates, said catchers communicating with the intake opening, and a deflec tor bar tiltably mounted at the intake opening, said bar having an upwardly presented flat face for directing the flow of incoming material op- 69 tionally to one side or the other of the line of flow through the chute, depending upon the position of adjustment of the deflector bar, said deflector bar further having two angularly disposed under faces for respectively deflecting tramp material into one or the other of the trampmaterial catchers, depending upon the position in which the deflector bar is tilted.

'7. A hammer-mill comprising a housing, a

semi-cylindrical screen within the housing, arou- 70 ate breaker plates in the housing and projecting over the screen to define a substantially cylindrical cage in the housing, hammers operably mounted in the cage for rotary movement about a substantially horizontal axis, the breaker plates 76 being spaced downwardly from the top of the housing and having their inwardly presented margins in spaced relation to each other to deflne an intake opening for thecage which opening is in upwardly spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the hammers, an intake chute extending through the top of the housing in substantially vertical alignment with the hammer axis and the cage opening, said chute terminating at its lower end in a discharge opening spaced above the intake opening of the cage, deflector means rockably mounted in and extending across the housing in the path of material falling freely downwardly from the discharge opening of the chute, said deflector means being disposed for tilting movement about an axis in upwardly spaced relation with the hammer axis and tilting transversely of the cage for optionally directing the falling material through the intake opening optionally to one side or the other of the cage.

8. A hammer-mill comprising a housing, a semicylindrical screen within the housing, arcuate breaker plates in the housing and projecting over the screen and cooperating therewith to define a substantially cylindrical cage in the housing, hammers operably mounted in the cage for rotary movement about a substantially horizontal axis, the breaker plates having their inwardly presented margins in spaced relation to each other to define an intake opening for the cage which opening is in upwardly spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the hammers, an intake chute extending through the top of the housing in substantially vertical alignment with the hammer axis and the cage opening, said chute terminating at its lower end in a discharge opening spaced above the intake opening of the cage, a deflector bar rockably mounted in and extending across the housing in the path of material falling freely downwardly from the discharge opening of the chute, said deflector bar being disposed for tilting movement about an axis extending approximately parallel to the hainmeraxis for directing the falling material through the intake opening optionally to one side or the other of thecage, and means for holding the deflector bar selectively in itsrespective positions.

9. A hammermill comprising a housing, a semi-cylindrical'screen within the housing, arcuate breaker plates in the housing and projecting .over the screen to define a substantially cylindrical cage in the housing, hammers operably of the hammers,l an intake chute extending through the top of the. housing in substantially vertical alignment with the hammer axis and the cage opening, said chute terminating at its lower end in a discharge opening spaced above the intake opening of the cage, deflector means rockably mounted in and extending acres the 8 housingln the path of material falling freely downwardly from the discharge opening of the chute, said deflector means being disposed for tilt-' ing movement about an axis parallel to and in upwardly spaced relation with the hammer axis for optionally directing the falling material through the intake opening optionally to one side or the other of the cage, said deflector bar having beveled opposite edges for optionally engaging opposite margins of the chute when the bar is tilted to its respective positions.

10. A hammer-mill comprising a housing, a semi-cylindrical screen within the housing, arouate breaker plates in the housing and projecting over the screen to deflne a substantially cylindrical cage in the housing, hammers operably mounted in the cage for rotary movement about a substantially horizontal axis, the breaker plates being spaced downwardly from the top of the housing and having their inwardly presented margins in spaced relation to each other to deflne an intake opening for the cage which opening is in upwardly spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the hammers, an intake chute extending through the top of the housing in substantially vertical alignment with the hammer axis and the cage opening, said chute terminating at its lower end in a discharge opening spaced above the intake opening of the cage, deflector means rockably mounted in and extending across the housing in the path of material falling freely downwardly from the discharge opening of the chute, said deflector means being disposed for tilting movement about an axis parallel to and in upwardly spaced relation with the hammer axis for optionally directing the falling material through the intake opening optionally to one side or'the other of the cage, the intake chute having downwardly presented beveled faces in position for engagement selectively by the upper face of the deflector bar in respective tilted positions thereof.

WILLIAM P. GRUENDLER.

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1,725,135 Gruendler Aug. 20, 1929 1,973,074 Howes et a1 Sept. 11, 1934 1,975,406 Resche Oct. 2, 1934 1,997,214 Guest Apr. 9, 1935 2,122,965 Swanson July 5, 1938 2,148,022 Haaland Feb. 21, 1939 2,149,571 Battey Mar. 7, 1939 2,170,407 Hartshorn Aug. 22, 1939 2,171,100 Sakurai Aug. 29, 1939 2,233,727 Bell Mar. 4, 1941 2,440,388 Wright Apr. 27, 1948 Knight Mar. 8, 1949 

